King’s guide to deer resistant plants. Deer can be a frustrating nuisance, but there is some relief! The following is a sample of shrubs and flowers that deer generally avoid and do well in our area. We do like to recommend that a repellent such as Liquid Fence be used when plants are first planted to protect young foliage. The list is arranged by botanical name followed by common name.
Annuals:
Ageratum houstonianum – Floss Flower
Alcea species – Hollyhock
Celosia cristata – Cockscomb
Centaurea cyanus – Bachelor’s Button
Cleome spinosa – Spider Flower
Coreopsis species – Coreopsis
Cosmos species – Cosmos
Dyssodia tenuiloba – Dahlberg Daisy
Eschscholzia californica – California Poppy
Gaillardia species – Gaillardia
Gypsophila – Baby’s Breath
Helianthus species – Sunflower
Impatients balsamina – Balsam
Impatiens wallerana – Busy Lizzie
Ipomoea species – Morning Glory
Limonium sinuatum – Statice
Lobelia erinus – Lobelia
Lobularia maritima – Sweet Alyssum
Myostis sylvatica – Forget-Me-Not
Nigella damascena – Love-in-the-Mist
Papaver rhoeas – Shirley Poppy
Portulaca grandiflora – Rose Moss
Salvia species – Sage
Sanvitalia procumbens – Creeping Zinnia
Scabiosa atropurpurea – Pincushion Flower
Senecio cineraria – Dusty Miller
Tithonia rotundiflora – Mexican Sunflower
Perennials:
Achillea species – Yarrow
Alcea rosea – Hollyhock
Aloe species – Aloe
Alstromeria – Peruvian Lily
Anenome japonica
Aquilegia – Columbine
Armeria maritima – Common Thrift
Artemesia species – Wormwood
Artichoke
Aster species – Perennial Asters
Astilbe – Meadow Sweet
Aubrieta deltoidea – Common Aubrieta
Aurinia saxatilis – Perennial Alyssum
Bellis perennis – English Daisy
Beloperone guttata – Shrimp Plant
Bergenia – Saxifraga
Brachycome iberdifolia – Swan River Daisy
Centaurea cineraria – Dusty Miller
Centranthus ruber – Jupiter’s Beard
Chrysanthemum frutescens – Marguerite
Chrysanthemum partenuim – Feverfew
Coreopsis species
Dicentra species – Bleeding Heart
Digitalis species – Foxglove
Echium fastuosum – Pride of Madeira
Erigeron glaucus – Santa Barbara Daisy
Eriogonom species – Buckwheat
Erysimum linifolium – Bowle’s Mauve
Euryops species
Felicia amelloides – Blue Marguerite
Galium odoratum – Sweet Woodruff
Geranium – Cranesbill
Gerbera jamesonii – Transvaal Daisy
Gypsophila – Baby’s Breath
Helichrysum species – Strawflower
Helleborus niger – Christmas Rose
Hemerocallis – Daylily
Heuchera sanguinea – Coral Bells
Iris species
Kniphofia uvaria – Red Hot Poker
Lantana montevidensis – Trailing Lantana
Lavandula species – Lavener
Leonotis leonurus – Lion’s Tail
Limonium – Sea Lavender
Liriope muscari – Lily Turf
Lobelia cardinalis – Cardinal Flower
Lupinus species – Lupine
Lychnis coronaria – Crown Pink
Mimulus – Monkey Flower
Mirabilis – Four O’Clock
Monarda species – Bee Balm
Nepeta faassenii – Catmint
Nierembergia species – Cupflower
Oenothera species – Evening Primrose
Origanum dictamnus – Crete Dittany
Papaver orientale – Oriental Poppy
Penstemon – Beard Tongue
Phlox subulata – Moss Pink
Rudbeckia hirta – Gloriosa Daisy
Ruta graveolens – Common Rue
Salvia species – Sage, Salvia
Santolina chamaecyparissus- Lavender Cotton
Scabiosa columbaria – Pincushion Flower
Silene acaulis – Cushion Pink
Stachys byzantina – Lamb’s Ear
Tagetes lemmonii – Bush Marigold
Tropaeolum – Nasturtium
Tulbaghia violacae – Society Garlic
Verbena peruviana – Peruvian Verbena
Viola odorata – Sweet Violet
Zantendeschia – Calla Lily
Bulbs:
Alstromeria – Peruvian Lily
Amaryllis belladonna – Naked Lady
Begonia – Tuberous Begonia
Canna
Crocosmia – Montbretia
Crocus
Cyclamen
Cymbidium – Terrestrial orchids
Cypripedium californicum – Lady Slipper
Dahlia imperialis – Tree Dahlia
Freesia
Fritillaria imperialis – Crown Imperial
Galanthus elwesii – Giant Snowdrop
Ixia
Muscari – Grape Hyacinth
Narcissus – Daffodil
Scillia – Blue Bells
Watsonia – Bugle Lily
Zantedeschia – Calla Lily
Grasses (and grass-like plants):
Acorus variegatus – Japanese Sweet Flag
Alopecurus pretensis “Aureovariegatus” – Yellow Meadow Foxtail
Arundinaria viridistriata – Dwarf Running Bamboo
Arundo donax – Reed Grass
Briza maxima/media – Quacking Grass
Calamagrostis – Feather Reed Grass
Carex – Sedge Grass
Deschampsia caespitosa – Tufted Hair Grass
Dietes – Fortnight Lily
Festuca – Fescue
Hakonechloa – Golden
Imperata – Japanese Blood Grass
Juncus – Common Rush
Miscanthus – Feather Grass
Molinia – Purple Moor Grass
Pennisetum – Fountain Grass
Phalaris – Ribbon Grass
Phormium – New Zealand Flax
Stipa gigantea – Feather Grass
Vines and Groundcover:
Ajuga reptans – Carpet Bugle
Anthemis nobilis – Chamomile
Bougainvillea species
Campsis species – Trumpet Creeper
Carpobrotus edulis – Ice Plant
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides – Dwarf Plumbago
Chamaemelum nobile – Chamomile
Clematis armandii – Evergreen Clematis
Coprosma kirkii – Creepingn Coprosma
Erodium chamaedryoides – Crane’s Bill
Ficus pumilla – Creeping Fig
Gazania species
Gelsemium sempervirens – Carolina Jasmine
Hedera helix – English Ivy
Herniaria glabra – Green Carpet
Irish moss
Isotoma – Blue Star Creeper
Jasminium species – Jasmine
Juniper species – Juniper
Lithidora diffusa
Lotus berthelotii – Parrot’s Beak
Mint species
Myoporum parvifolium – Creeping Myoporum
Muehlenbeckia – Mattress Vine
Osteospermum fruticosum – Trailing African Daisy
Pachysandra terminalis – Japanese Spurge
Polygonum – Knotweed
Scaevola – Mauve Clusters
Solanum jasminoides – Potato Vine
Stachys byzantina – Lamb’s Ears
Thumbergia alata – Black-Eyed Susan Vine
Thymus species
Vinca species – Periwinkle
Viola odorata – Sweet Violet
Wisteria species – Wisteria
Zauschneria californica – California Fuschia
Trees:
Acer palmatum – Japanese Maples
Aesculus calofirnica – California Buckeye
Albeisia – Silk Tree
Arbutus – Strawberry Tree
Catalpa species
Cinnamomum camphora – Camphor Tree
Conifers: cedar, fir, pine, redwood, spruce
Cotinus coggyria – Smoke Tree
Crataegus species – Ash
Diospyros – Persimmon
Eucalyptus species
Ficus carica – Fruiting Fig
Fraxinus species – Ash
Ginko biloba – Maidenhair Tree
Lagerstroma indica – Crepe Myrtle
Laurus nobilis – Grecian Laurel
Liquidamber styraciflua – Sweet Gum
Magnolia species – Magnolia
Maytenus boaria – Mayten Tree
Olea europaea – Olive
Pistachia chinensis – Chinese Pistache
Podocarpus granatum – Yew Pine
Punica granatum – Pomegranate
Quercus species – Oak
Quince – Fruiting Quince
Rhus species – Sumac
Scinus species – Pepper Tree
Sequoia sempervirens – Coast Redwood
Thuja plicata – Western Red Cedar
Umbellularia californica – California Bay
Bushes and shrubs:
All Ferns
Agapanthus species – Lily of the Nile
Alyogyne huegelii – Blue Hibiscus
Arctostaphylos – Manzanita
Bamboo species
Berberis species – Barberry
Brugmansia – Angel’s Trumpet
Buddleia – Butterfly Bush
Buxus species – Boxwood
Callistemon species – Bottlebrush
Ceanothus – Wild Lilac
Chaenomeles species – Flowering Quince
Choisya ternata – Mexican Mock Orange
Cistus species – Rockrose
Clivia miniata – Kaffir Lily
Coleonema pulchrum – Pink Breath of Heaven
Convovulus cneorum – Bush Morning Glory
Coprosma kirkii – Dwarf Mirror Plant
Cordyline autralis – Dracena Palm
Corokia cotoneaster – Twisted Cotoneaster
Correa pulchella – Australian Fuchsia
Cotoneaster lacteus – Red Clusterberry
Crassula argentea – Jade Plant
Cyperus species – Papyrus
Daphne species – daphne
Dendromecon harfordii – Island Bush Poppy
Dodonaea viscosa – Hop Bush
Dracena species – Dragon Palm
Echium fastuosum – Pride of Madeira
Echium wildpretii – Tower of Jewels
Elaeagnus species – Silverberry
Erica – Heath
Eriogonum arboresscens – Wild Buckwheat
Euphorbia species – Spurge
Fatsia japonica – Japanese Aralia
Feijoa sellowiana – Pineapple Guava
Ferns – all types
Forsythia species – Forsythia
Fremontodendron – Flannel Bush
Garrya elliptica – coastal Silktassle
Gaultheria shallon – Salal
Geranium – Cranesbill
Geranium – scented varieties
Grevellia species – Grevellia
Hakea sauveolens – Sweet hakea
Halimium lasianthum – Sunrose
Hebe buxifolia – Boxleaf Hebe
Helianthemim nummularium – Sun Rose
Heteromeles arbutifolia – Toyon
Hypericum calycinum – St. John’s Wort
Ilex species – Holly
Impatiens oliveri – Snapweed, Poor Man’s Rhododendron
Iris species – Iris
Juniperus species – Juniper
Kniphofia uvaria – Red Hot Poker
Kolkwitzia amabilis – Beauty Bush
Lagerstoemia indica – Crepe Myrtle
Lavandula species – Lavender
Leptospermum species – Tea Tree
Loropetalum chinense – Chinesse Witch Hazel
Lupinus arboreus – Lupine
Mahonia species – Oregon Grape
Melaleuca species – Melaleuca
Melianthus major – Honey Bush
Metrosideros excelsus – New Zealand Christmas Tree
Moraea iridiodes – African Iris
Myoporum species – Myoporum
Myrica californica – Pacific Wax Myrtle
Myrtus communis – Common Myrtle
Nandina domestica – Heavenly Bamboo
Nerium oleander – Oleander
Philadelphus coronarius – Sweet Mock Orange
Philodendron selloum – Bigleaf Philodendron
Phlomis fruiticosa – Jerusalem Sage
Phormium tenax – New Zealand Flax
Pieris species – Pieris
Plumbago auriculata – Cpae Plumbago
Poinciana gilliesii – Bird of Paradise Bush
Potentilla fruiticosa – Bush Cinquefoil
Prostanthera rotundifolia – Mint Bush
Punica granatum – Pomegranate
Quercus – Oak
Rhamnus californica – California Coffeeberry
Rhododendron species – Rhododendron (not Azaleas)
Rhus species – Sumac
Ribes species – Currant, Gooseberry
Romneya coulteri – Matilija Poppy
Rosmarinus officinalis – Rosemary
Ruhus vitifolius – Blackberry
Salvia secies – Salvia, Sage
Sambucus caerulea – Blue Elderberry
Sarcococca species – Sarcococca, Sweet Box
Sollya heterophylla – Australian Bluebell
Strelitzia species – Bird of Paradise
Syringa species – Common Lilac
Syzygium paniculatum – Brush Cherry
Tamaarix species – Tamarisk
Tellima grandiflora – Fringe Cup
Tetrapanax papyruferus – Rice Paper Plant
Teucrium fruticans – Bush Germander
Thuya / Thuja scpecies – Arborvitae
Westringia rosmariniformis – Westringa
Yucca glauca – Small Soapweed